Exclusive pairing technique for bluetooth compliant devices

ABSTRACT

A method and system of establishing communications between at least two independent software modules in a safety critical system, such as a medical system, is provided. The design comprises providing an exclusive Bluetooth connection between at least two wireless devices. A master wireless device is configured with Bluetooth master device functionality and a slave wireless device is configured with Bluetooth slave device functionality. The wireless devices are employed in performing procedures in a safety critical environment. The method further comprises acquiring a stored unique address from the slave wireless device over the Bluetooth connection, comparing the stored unique address to a master wireless device unique address available at the master wireless device, and exclusively pairing the master wireless device and the slave wireless device when the unique address acquired from the slave wireless device is found to identically match the master wireless device unique address.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the art of communications,and more specifically to managing data communications between multipleindependent subsystems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many of today's deployed commercial, corporate and government systems,such as nuclear power monitoring and control system, telephone systems,medical system, or other operational systems of any form found in avariety of scenarios are constructed as a collection of two or moreindependent components, modules or subsystems realized in hardware andsoftware. Constructing a suite of independent components or modulesaffords product designers and manufacturers the ability to create anddeploy subsystems that perform specific functions that are a subset ofthe complete device or system.

Designs that take advantage of allocating functions to a plurality ofspecialized subsystems must include a communications mechanism to enablethe subsystems to interact. Subsystems may share or communicate controland status information between each other to realize complete systemfunctionality. These communications are typically implemented using acommunications protocol that specifies a uniform or consensus formatthat the subsystems use to transmit and receive information to eachother.

Many types of computing and communication systems and devices transmitcontrol and status signals between subsystems over a fixed wire or cableusing a standard cable interface, such as Universal Serial Bus,Ethernet, etc. Recent developments have made it highly desirable forsubsystems to communicate over a wireless network, thus reducing oreliminating the need to use fixed wire cables or backplanes to connectsubsystems.

Current wireless implementations based on the Bluetooth™ communicationsprotocol can become unsuitable for interconnection of subsystems formingsafety critical system products that typically are interconnected usinga fixed wire cable.

A major problem that may result in a hazardous situation whenimplementing the above-mentioned wireless Bluetooth communicationsprotocol in a safety critical environment may occur within the operationof the slave device subsystem. Such a slave device subsystem, in amedical application, may include a remote control mechanism or a footpedal that may mistakenly connect to and unintentionally interact with aforeign or separate master computing platform subsystem. For example, awireless foot pedal in operating theater A may pair and connect tocomputing platform A while a surgeon uses the foot pedal during theprocedure to control computing platform A. During the conduct of thisprocedure, another surgeon activates wireless foot pedal in operatingtheater B and initiates the Bluetooth ‘pairing’ process. The wirelessfoot pedal in operating theater B pairs and connects to computingplatform B and a surgeon uses the foot pedal during the procedure tocontrol computing platform B.

However, a slave device, i.e. foot pedal, may pair with multiple masterdevices, i.e. computing platform controller systems, in a Bluetoothenvironment. In the foregoing example, the wireless foot pedal inoperating theater B also pairs and connects with computing platform A.In this situation, the surgeon in operating theater B is controllingcomputing platform s A and B simultaneously while the surgeon inoperating theater A is also controlling computing platform A. Thesimultaneous operation of an computing platform from two wireless footpedals can create confusion, disrupt a delicate operating procedure, andcan potentially cause injury or even death to the patient in operatingtheater A. The surgeon in operating theater B may successfully controlcomputing platform B in an effort to perform a procedure while unawarethat he is simultaneously sending the same control input or signals tocomputing platform A. The surgeon in operating theater A may observethis interference, but remains unable to address the situation otherthan to discontinue the procedure, being forced to shut down computingplatform A.

Overall system integrity is paramount to designing and deploying safetycritical systems. Thus, today's designers are faced with a difficult andcomplex implementation challenge to ensure wireless communicationsbetween desired subsystems provide the required level of safety in, forexample, an operating theater environment.

Furthermore, the communications protocol employed in the construction ofsafety critical systems must provide the ability for a slave device toexclusively pair and connect with a pre-selected master device ensuringthe slave device is only communicating with a single master device atany given time.

Based on the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide a wirelessconnection for use in safety critical systems that overcome theforegoing drawbacks present in previously known Bluetooth communicationsprotocol designs used in the design of safety critical systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present design, there is provided amethod and system of establishing communications between at least twoindependent software modules in a safety critical system, such as amedical system, is provided. The design comprises providing an exclusiveBluetooth connection between at least two wireless devices. A masterwireless device is configured with Bluetooth master device functionalityand a slave wireless device is configured with Bluetooth slave devicefunctionality. The wireless devices are employed in performing aprocedure in a safety critical environment. The method further comprisesacquiring a stored unique address from the slave wireless device overthe Bluetooth connection, comparing the stored unique address to amaster wireless device unique address available at the master wirelessdevice, and exclusively pairing the master wireless device and the slavewireless device when the unique address acquired from the slave wirelessdevice is found to identically match the master wireless device uniqueaddress.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparentto those skilled in the art from the following detailed description ofthe invention and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the components and interfaces ofan exemplary medical system employing the novel communications protocolof the present design;

FIG. 2 illustrates the Bluetooth pairing mechanism components,interfaces for searching and pairing master and slave Bluetooth enableddevices;

FIG. 3 illustrates the Bluetooth pairing mechanism sequence of eventsfor searching and pairing master and slave Bluetooth enabled devices;

FIG. 4 illustrates the Bluetooth pairing mechanism in an environmentwhere a plurality of Bluetooth slave devices are present and withinbroadcast query range;

FIG. 5A illustrates the exclusive pairing configuration mechanismsequence of events for sending the Bluetooth master device address to asingle Bluetooth enabled slave device;

FIG. 5B illustrates the exclusive pairing operational mechanism sequenceof events for retrieving the unique address stored in the Bluetoothslave device address and enabling an exclusive communications path inaccordance with the present design;

FIG. 6A is a flowchart representing the general operation of the systemin configuration mode in accordance with the present design;

FIG. 6B is a flowchart representing the general operation of the systemin operational mode in accordance with the present design;

FIG. 7 illustrates a footpedal that may be employed in accordance withthe current design; and

FIG. 8 shows the conceptual connections between the footpedal and thebase unit and power source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description and the drawings illustrate specificembodiments sufficiently to enable those skilled in the art to practicethe system and method described. Other embodiments may incorporatestructural, logical, process and other changes. Examples merely typifypossible variations. Individual components and functions are generallyoptional unless explicitly required, and the sequence of operations mayvary. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in orsubstituted for those of others.

The present design provides a system and method for managing Bluetoothdata communications between multiple independent subsystems in a safetycritical system. The present design may provide a wirelesscommunications protocol for sending and receiving arbitrary data betweentwo subsystems exclusively and ensuring data integrity. The subsystemsmay perform specific functions that are a sub-set of the complete deviceor system. With the data communications provided by the present design,the subsystems may perform as two independent software entities. Eachsoftware entity may provide the applications and the appropriateunderlying operating systems software. The present designs wirelesscommunications protocol may enable exclusive communications to beestablished between two pre-selected subsystems. The present design mayprovide an exclusive pairing, sometimes referred to as linking orbonding, mechanism for wireless Bluetooth communications that enables asingle slave device to connect and communicate with a singlepre-selected master device. Exclusively paired wireless devices mayassociate with each other and exchange data.

The present design is directed to managing an accurate, reliable, andexclusive communications arrangement for transmitting and receiving dataover a wireless Bluetooth communications network between independentsubsystems in a system such as a safety critical system.

While the present design may be used in various environments andapplications, it will be discussed herein with a particular emphasis ona medical or hospital environment, where a surgeon or health carepractitioner performs. As noted, it is to be understood that thedescription in such a system is mean to be exemplary and not limiting,and such a system may be employed in any type of system, such as amission critical system, including to but not limited to an air trafficcontrol system, nuclear power system, military defense system, or amyriad of other applications fulfilling commercial, corporate andgovernment systems. For example, embodiments of the present design mayinclude a phacoemulsification surgical system, vitrectomy system, orcombined phaco-vitrectomy system comprising an independent graphicaluser interface (GUI) module, an instrument host computing platformmodule, and a computing platform controller module, such as a foot pedalor switch, to control the surgical system.

FIG. 1 illustrates a phacoemulsification system in block diagram form toshow the components and interfaces for a safety critical medical systemin accordance with the present design. The particular embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1 contemplates that the GUI host 101 subsystem andinstrument host 102 subsystem computing platforms are connected by aserial communication cable 103 for the purposes of controlling thesurgical instrument host 102 by the GUI host 101. A wireless footpedal104 switch subsystem may transmit control signals relating internalphysical and virtual switch position information as input to theinstrument host 102 over wireless communications network 105.

The phacoemulsification system has a handpiece/needle 110 that includesa needle and electrical means, typically a piezoelectric crystal, forultrasonically vibrating the needle. The instrument host 102 suppliespower on line 111 to a phacoemulsification handpiece/needle 110. Anirrigation fluid source 112 is fluidly coupled to handpiece/needle 110through line 113. The irrigation fluid and ultrasonic power are appliedby handpiece/needle 110 to a patient's eye, or affected area or region,indicated diagrammatically by block 114. Alternatively, the irrigationsource may be routed to the eye 114 through a separate pathwayindependent of the handpiece. The eye 114 is aspirated by the instrumenthost 102 peristaltic pump (not shown) through line/handpiece needle 115and line 116. A switch 117 disposed on the handpiece 110 may be utilizedas a means for enabling a surgeon/operator to select an amplitude ofelectrical pulses to the handpiece via the instrument host and GUI host.Any suitable input means, such as, for example, a wireless foot pedal104 switch subsystem may be utilized in lieu of the switch 117.

In FIG. 1, the wireless foot pedal 104 switch subsystem and instrumenthost 102 may be two separate independent software execution environmentscomprising the medical system applications software and the underlyingoperating systems. The present design may provide control and feedbackof the medical system by exchanging data between wireless foot pedal 104switch subsystem and the instrument host 102, between softwaresubsystems within the instrument host, between the instrument host andsubsystems external to the instrument host 102 and/or GUI host 101, orbetween subsystems external to the instrument host 102 and/or GUI host101. The present design may realize this data exchange using a softwarealgorithm executing in each applicable master and slave device thatprovides the same lightweight or bandwidth efficient Bluetoothconnection configured in an exclusive master-slave data communicationsrelationship. The communications protocol may be implemented in both thewireless foot pedal 104 switch subsystem and instrument host 102subsystem and arranged to enable either module to act as the master andthe other as the slave subsystem as appropriate. More than one softwaresubsystem may employ the protocol and aspects described herein, possiblyusing different security measures that prohibit synchronizing betweenremote or unintended slave devices.

Although the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 contemplatesthat the GUI host 101 subsystem and instrument host 102 subsystem areconnected by a serial communication cable 103, these two host subsystemmay also implement the present designs exclusive master-slave datacommunications relationship. A serial communication cable 103 connectionis illustrated in FIG. 1 for simplicity.

Bluetooth Standard

Bluetooth technology provides a communication protocol for use across ashort-range radio network. In summary, Bluetooth technology enablescommunication between two wireless devices without use of a fixed cableconnection. The Bluetooth specification addresses the establishment of acommunications path to form a wireless connection for the transmissionand reception of data, control signals and information across a singlecommunications path.

A Bluetooth device is essentially a cable replacement system thatconsists of a master and a slave. The Bluetooth communications protocolrequires the master and slave devices to first identify themselves toeach other. This Bluetooth process is know as ‘pairing’ and should bewell understood by those skilled in the art.

Designs implementing wireless connections using Ericsson's Bluetoothprotocol specification have become commonplace in the consumer market.The Bluetooth communications protocol is well suited for replacing afixed wired cable found in today's consumer products such as a cellularphone to connect the headset, a personal digital assistant to connectand synchronize with other devices.

Implementing the Bluetooth specification yields a communications pathbetween wireless non-fixed devices and subsystems. The Bluetoothspecification also addresses providing an interference resistantcommunications path with automatic error detection and correctioncapabilities for transmitting and receiving of control signals, data,and information.

The Bluetooth communications protocol enables a slave device pairingwith multiple master devices and enables the master device to pair withmultiple slave devices. Products implementing Bluetooth communications,establish connectivity between each slave device and its associatedmasters simultaneously.

Before they can exchange data, Bluetooth implementations employ apairing process to establish a new relationship between two Bluetoothenabled devices. In this context, “pairing” refers to a mechanism wherethe two devices exchange protected passkeys and form a link. Oncepaired, all data and information transmitted over this Bluetooth linkare encrypted and only slave devices authorized during the pairingprocess become able to receive and decipher this encrypted transmission.The Bluetooth specification defines three security modes ranging fromrequiring no encryption or authentication to requiring encryption withauthentication. The present design may operate and function with eachBluetooth security mode.

The operation of today's current state of design for Bluetoothconnection establishment will be described in the paragraphs thatfollow. The teachings are intended to provide a basic foundation forBluetooth pairing using over-the-air techniques. This basic foundationwill form the framework for describing the present design system andmethod.

In order to establish a connection between a master and slave device ina Bluetooth compliant system, the master device initiates a devicepairing process. The pairing process consists of a searching phase and apairing phase. The searching phase, initiated by the Bluetooth masterdevice, is used to discover all available Bluetooth slave devices.During the searching phase, each slave device responds with its uniqueaddress. The Bluetooth master device reports and stores the receivedaddresses. If the intended slave device is not found, the searchingprocess is repeated. After the searching phase concludes, the Bluetoothmaster device initiates the pairing phase. The pairing phase is used toestablish an authentication mechanism between the master and slavedevice. Successful completion of the pairing phase results in acommunication path being established between these two Bluetooth enableddevices.

The pairing process is suitable in a variety of applications andenvironments. For example, a cellular phone handset may act as aBluetooth master device and initiate the pairing process with anintegrated earpiece and microphone Bluetooth slave device to establish awireless communication path enabling wireless bi-directional transfer ofdata and information. In this environment, the searching phase can beachieved in a very short amount of time since there are a limited numberof devices available for the cellular phone handset to search.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary communication system employing Bluetoothtechnology providing a communications path across wirelesscommunications network 230 between antenna 214 connected to controller210 and antenna 215 connected to wireless device 211. For purposes ofillustration, an instrument host 102 manages the wireless controller210, and the wireless device 211 provides a footpedal 221 used incontrolling the instrument host 102. The communication systemfacilitates bi-directional communication between the instrument host 102and footpedal 221. The Bluetooth technology is realized by employing aBluetooth master device 212 and a Bluetooth slave device 213, whereinthe Bluetooth master device 212 and the Bluetooth slave device 213access the wireless communications network 230 to form a communicationspath between antennas 214 and 215 respectively.

Bluetooth employs a pairing process to establish a new relationshipbetween two Bluetooth enabled devices before they can exchange data. Inthis context, pairing refers to a mechanism where the two devices areexchanging protected passkeys and form a link. Pairing may be describedin terms of a discovery and authentication mechanism. Once paired, alldata and information transmitted over this Bluetooth link is encryptedand only those slave devices authorized during the pairing process willbe able to receive and decipher this encrypted transmission.

In order to establish a connection between a master and slave device ina Bluetooth compliant system, the master device initiates a devicepairing process. The master device searches for one or more slavedevices, and then pairs with the slave devices to accomplish the pairingprocess.

FIG. 3 illustrates the Bluetooth pairing mechanism between the Bluetoothmaster device 212 and the Bluetooth slave device 213. Before the pairingprocess can begin, a PIN code must be entered into both Bluetoothdevices. Note that in some slave devices, for example wirelessearphones, footpedal switches, and other peripheral devices, the PIN isfixed and cannot be changed. In such cases, the fixed PIN is enteredinto the Bluetooth master device 212. To start the pairing process, theBluetooth slave device 213 must be set in the pairing mode. This istypically achieved by pressing a button on the wireless device 211 at353. Pairing mode enables the Bluetooth slave device 213 to listen onantenna 215 for inquiry requests originating from the Bluetooth masterdevice 212 as it transmits inquiry request on antenna 214 across thewireless communications network 230. Next, the fixed PIN 351 valuestored within the Bluetooth slave device 213 is entered into controller210. This is typically accomplished by the user entering the PIN 351manually into the Bluetooth master device 212 at 350, or may be suppliedelectronically by an external system in the form of automaticprovisioning at 350 (not shown).

At this point, the user may instruct the Bluetooth master device 212 tobegin transmitting multiple inquiry requests to search for all availableand in range Bluetooth slave devices 213. Typically the user selects“begin search mode” from a menu at 352 (not shown).

Beginning search mode causes a broadcast query 354 to be sent from theBluetooth master device 212 to any in-range Bluetooth slave devices 213for the purpose of discovering their Bluetooth slave addresses. EachBluetooth slave device 213 that receives the broadcast query 354 followsa response procedure to return an inquiry response 357 to the Bluetoothmaster device 212. This response procedure includes the slave deviceproviding its unique identification number 355 (i.e. slave address). Theslave device may encapsulate its address in its inquiry responsemessage. In parallel, the Bluetooth master device 212 listens for allinquiry responses 357 generated by the in range Bluetooth slave devices213. The Bluetooth searching phase basically allows the master device todiscover all available in range slave devices. The Bluetooth masterdevice 212 compares each returned unique address to the Bluetooth slaveaddresses initially registered with and stored in the Bluetooth masterdevice 212 at 356. When the Bluetooth master device 212 matches anaddress retuned from a slave device 213 to a registered identifiernumber, the Bluetooth searching phase is completed,

Next, the Bluetooth master device sends an initiate pairing 358 messageto the registered slave device possessing the matching address. Theslave device responds to the initiate pairing 358 request by sending asecurity request 359 as part of the pairing phase. The Bluetooth masterdevice 212 responds to the security request 359 by generating a keybased on the previously entered PIN number. The master device 212 sendsthis key at 360 to wireless device 211. If the Bluetooth master device212 sends a valid key based on having the correct PIN number for theintended slave device, the Bluetooth slave device 213 returns anauthentication 361 message. On successful authentication, the Bluetoothmaster and slave device form a communications path 365 and invokesencryption across this link based on the supplied key. Thus the pairingphase of the pairing process completes and the two devices are now ableto send and receive data and information across this path.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary wireless communication system employinga plurality of Bluetooth slave devices 213 and one Bluetooth masterdevice 212. The Bluetooth master device 212 begins a device pairingprocess by sending a broadcast query 354 to all Bluetooth slave devices213. The transmission of the broadcast query 354 from the Bluetoothmaster device 212 initiates a search for all Bluetooth slave devices 213that are within reception range. The broadcast query 354 requests eachBluetooth slave device 213 to return its unique Bluetooth address 355.

For example, wireless device one at point 405 replies to the broadcastquery 354 by sending an inquiry response 357 and provides its uniqueaddress ‘ONE’ at point 406 to Bluetooth master device 212. Wirelessdevice two at point 407 replies to broadcast query 354 by sending aninquiry response 357 and provides its unique Bluetooth address ‘TWO’ atpoint 408. Wireless device three at point 409 replies to the broadcastquery 354 by sending an inquiry response 357 and provides its uniqueBluetooth address ‘THREE’ at point 410. In this example, allin-reception range wireless devices reply to the Bluetooth master device212 broadcast requests 354. Wireless device ‘N’ at point 471 replies tothe broadcast query 354 by sending an inquiry response 357 and providesits unique Bluetooth address ‘N’ at point 472. Bluetooth master device212 creates and maintains a list of Bluetooth addresses at point 476received from the queried wireless devices 405, 407, 409 and 471. TheBluetooth master device 212 compares the returned Bluetooth addresses tothe address originally sent by the instrument host 102 or provided bythe user. In this example, the instrument host 102 provided theBluetooth master device 212 the unique address ‘ONE’ (not shown). TheBluetooth master device 212 searches the list of Bluetooth addresses 476for a slave device that matches the previously registered unique addresslist stored at 356. In this example, the Bluetooth master device 212matches with wireless device one at point 405 since it returned thedesired unique address ‘ONE’.

Bluetooth master device 212 then initiates a pairing process withwireless device 405. The Bluetooth master device 212 connects andcommunicates with only the Bluetooth slave device reporting the desiredregistered address and thus completes the pairing process. Once thepairing process concludes successfully, a wireless communications path365 is established and becomes available for use between controller 210implementing Bluetooth master device 212 and the intended wirelessdevice one 405 implementing Bluetooth slave device 213 functionality.

After pairing with wireless device one at point 405, the Bluetoothmaster device may begin the pairing process for the remaining activeBluetooth slave devices 213 at point 407, 409, and 471. In this manner,the Bluetooth master device can successfully pair with one or moreBluetooth slave devices.

In an operating theater environment, safety issues may arise if thesearching and pairing process acquires Bluetooth addresses from slavedevices already in use. For example, if a non-fixed wireless medicalsubsystem device is required to perform a surgical task, the device mustbe first paired with an instrument host. When the instrument hostinitiates the pairing process for the non-fixed wireless medical device,the instrument host instructs the Bluetooth master device to search forall slave devices within range.

This may become problematic if the search includes slave devices thatare within range and currently in-use in, for example, an adjacentoperating room. Moreover, if the master device successfully pairs with aslave device in a different operating room, not only can this pose asafety hazard, but at a minimum will consume a great deal of time toeliminate this error. If a Bluetooth enabled slave device requiresreplacement during an operation, an efficient and reliable pairingprocess is paramount to continuing the procedure while minimizingdisruption.

Exclusive Pairing Technique

Generally, the present design introduces a new connection establishmentarrangement that modifies and enhances the current Bluetooth discoveryand authentication mechanism offered with previous systems with a queryresponse method between the controller 210 and the non-fixed wirelessdevice 211 implementing Bluetooth slave device functionality. Thepresent design may enable a Bluetooth connection to form and provide anexclusive communications path between a single master and a single slavedevice.

For simplicity, the present design system and method will be describedfor a Bluetooth communications path between the foot pedal subsystem andthe instrument host subsystem that are part of a phacoemulsificationmachine, however the description may be applicable to any number ofsubsystems, for example the GUI host subsystem communicating with theinstrument host subsystem, in communication with one another comprisingpart of or the entire medical system. In this configuration, the controland feedback of the phacoemulsification machine may be accomplished byexchanging data between the foot pedal subsystem and the instrumenthost. In this arrangement, the foot pedal subsystem may provide controlsignals to the instrument host, and the instrument host may providecontrol for the actual surgical devices connected to the instrumenthost.

Current wireless communication designs implementing the Bluetoothprotocol provide a pairing mechanism enabling a Bluetooth master deviceto establish a communications path with one or more Bluetooth slavedevices. Current designs enable the Bluetooth master device to discoverone or more Bluetooth slave devices and authenticate with each slavedevice to form a communications path between a master and a slavedevice. The present design enables a Bluetooth master device toexclusively pair with a Bluetooth slave device. In this arrangement, thepresent design may allow a single master device to be paired with onlyone slave device at a time and not accept new pairing from additionalslave devices until the first or initial device is explicitly unpaired.

The present design may modify the current Bluetooth communication pathestablishment mechanism on both the master and slave device to enablethe master device to accept a single pairing with a slave device andwrite the master's unique device address into static memory, e.g. RAM,located on the slave device. When the master device desires to establisha connection with its paired slave device, the master may request thatthe slave device send the unique address stored locally in the slave,typically maintained in static memory. The master device may compare theaddress received from the slave device to its unique address. If a matchcondition is found, the master device may complete the connection andmay establish a communication path with the slave device.

The present design ensures or guarantees that an exclusive communicationpath is established between the master and pre-selected or intendedslave device.

FIG. 5A illustrates components and interfaces for configuring anexclusive master-slave communications relationship arranged between twoBluetooth enabled devices that may provide a single exclusivecommunications path between two wireless devices configured to establisha connection in accordance with the present design. Before theconfiguring process can begin, the present design may pair two wirelessdevices in accordance with the Bluetooth specification. For purposes ofsimplifying the example, this discussion assumes the appropriate PINcode(s) have been entered and each device is set in Bluetooth pairingmode such that the searching phase may begin as previously described. Atthis point, the user configuring wireless device 211 or another personensures that only one wireless footpedal is currently within operatingdistance. For example, user may choose to configure wireless devices forexclusive pairing after office hours when no surgeries are beingperformed. The user may instruct the controller 210 to initiate theBluetooth pairing process. The wireless controller 210 may establish acommunications path 365 to wireless device 211 by executing theBluetooth pairing process, including the searching 520 and pairing 530phase, as previously described and in accordance with the Bluetoothspecification. In the situation where at least one pre-selected wirelessdevice 211 device is discovered, the present design then may completethe Bluetooth pairing process. Thus, the two wireless devices are ableto send and receive data and information across communications path 365.

In the situation where one or more pre-selected wireless devices 211 orother undesirable Bluetooth enabled devices (not shown) are discovered,the present design may prevent more than one slave device from beingconfigured at a time. The present design may configure exclusive pairing540 for the first discovered pre-selected wireless device 211 wherecontroller 210 may send a send address 541 message to the wirelessdevice 211. The present design may write the received controller 210address into static memory, such as static Random Access Memory (RAM),realized within the wireless device 211. The wireless device 211 maysend an address receipt 542 message to controller 210 to indicate thatthe address was successfully stored to static memory. At this point,wireless device 211 has been configured to implement the exclusivepairing technique in accordance with the present design. The user maychoose to configure additional pre-selected wireless devices 211 byrepeating the above described exclusive pairing technique configurationprocess.

FIG. 5B illustrates components and interfaces for operating an exclusivemaster-slave communications relationship arranged between two Bluetoothenabled wireless devices and may provide a single exclusivecommunications path between the two wireless devices previouslyconfigured to establish a connection in accordance with the presentdesign. The user may instruct the controller 210 to initiate theBluetooth pairing process. The wireless controller 210 may establish acommunications path 565 to wireless device 211 by executing theBluetooth pairing process, including the searching 520 phase and pairing530 phase, and executing the present design exclusive pairing 550technique. The present design may realize the exclusive pairing 550technique where controller 210 sends an address request 551 message towireless device 211. The wireless device 211 may receive this messageand may read the previously stored controller address from static memoryand return this address by sending an address response 552 message tothe controller that originated the above described exclusive pairingsequence.

Controller 210 may compare the address obtained from the wireless device211 address response 552 message to its unique address. If the returnedaddress is found to match the controller's unique address, the presentdesign may form an exclusive communications path 565 between controller210 and wireless device 211 realized by implementing the exclusivepairing 550 technique in accordance with the present design. If thereturned address does not match the controller's unique address, thepresent design may explicitly “un-pair” the two wireless Bluetoothdevices and close any existing connections to end any communicationsbetween controller 210 and wireless device 211.

FIG. 6A illustrates general operation of the system in a configurationmode. From FIG. 6A, point 601 establishes start of the configurationmode arrangement for the exclusive pairing 550 technique in accordancewith the present design. The GUI host 101, instrument host 102, orcontroller 210 may start an exclusive pairing configuration utility at602 to initiate the configuration process in accordance with the presentdesign. Once initiated, the controller 210 may send a sequence ofcommands at 603 to wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem to begin thesearching phase. Wireless footpedals within signal reach and set inBluetooth pairing mode respond with their addresses. Controller 210 maymatch a responding wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem address at605 in accordance with the Bluetooth specification and complete thesearching 520 phase at 606. As part of the normal Bluetooth pairingprocess, controller 210 may send a sequence of commands to thepreviously matched wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem to begin theBluetooth pairing 530 phase. At point 608, the controller 210 andwireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem may authenticate and completethe Bluetooth pairing process.

At this point a communications path is formed at 609 between controller210 and wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem. Controller 210 may senda sequence of commands at 610 to wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystemto establish the exclusive pairing mechanism. The controller may sendits unique address to the wireless footpedal, and the wireless footpedalmay write this received address into local static memory at 611.Wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem may send an address responsemessage to controller 210 to indicate that their address has beensuccessfully stored and available for retrieval. The present design mayforward a message based on the address response message to the exclusivepairing configuration utility and may enable completion status to beindicated or displayed. The exclusive pairing configuration utility mayinclude a graphical user interface for display of status information andinput controls. At this point the exclusive pairing configurationutility may prompt the user to disconnect the footpedal. In addition,the present design may include an option to allow the user to establishan exclusive communications path between the controller and wirelessfootpedal in lieu of disconnecting the wireless footpedal.

FIG. 63 illustrates general operation of the system. From FIG. 6B, point621 establishes the start of the exclusive pairing 550 technique inaccordance with the present design. The GUI host 101, instrument host102, or controller 210 may start an exclusive pairing operations utilityat 622 to initiate the exclusive pairing process in accordance with thepresent design. Once initiated, the controller 210 may send a sequenceof commands at 623 to wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem to beginthe searching 520 phase. Wireless footpedals within signal reach thatare set in Bluetooth pairing mode respond with their addresses at 624.Controller 210 may match a responding wireless footpedal 104 switchsubsystem address at 625 in accordance with the Bluetooth specificationand complete the searching 520 phase at 626. As part of the normalBluetooth pairing process, controller 210 may send a sequence ofcommands to the previously matched wireless footpedal 104 switchsubsystem to begin the Bluetooth pairing 530 phase at 627. At point 628,the controller 210 and wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem mayauthenticate and complete the Bluetooth authentication process. At thispoint, controller 210 may send a sequence of commands to the matchedwireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem to request the stored uniqueaddress at point 629. Wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystem may sendthe stored address to controller 210 at point 630. The controller maycompare the address returned from the wireless footpedal 104 switchsubsystem to its unique address at point 631. If a match condition isfound to exist, the present design may form an exclusive communicationspath 565 between the controller and wireless footpedal at point 632.

Once the controller 210 and wireless footpedal 104 switch subsystemsuccessfully establish an exclusive connection, controller 210 mayreport to instrument host 102 that the exclusive communication path 565between the two wireless devices has been established. At point 633, theexclusive pairing operational utility may show a completion status tothe user and may prompt the user to step on the wireless footpedal toverify operation. The exclusive pairing operational utility may includea graphical user interface for display of status information and inputcontrols. When the communications path 565 is verified, the process endsat point 635 and the devices are ready for use.

In the situation where a match is not found, the present design may senda sequence of commands to the wireless footpedal 104 switch subsysteminstructing it to implicitly un-pair at 634 to close any existingBluetooth connections and end the exclusive pairing process at point635.

FIG. 6B illustrates three modules in the flowchart that may beconsidered optional components, each highlighted with a dashed line.These components (622, 627, and 633) may or may not be employed asdesired due to the nature of Bluetooth pairing.

Although the configuration utility and operational utility are describedseparately, the two exclusive pairing utilities may be realized in oneor more subsystems or modules.

Wireless Footpedal

FIG. 7 illustrates a switch subsystem for wireless foot pedal 104 thatmay be employed in accordance with the current design. In the embodimentillustrated, the Bluetooth slave device 213 receives one or more controlsignals from footpedal 221. The control signals generated by thefootpedal 221 may report the status of various physical and virtualswitches contained within or other parameters such as yaw linearposition and vertical linear position. The footpedal firmware within thefootpedal 221 reads and processes the switch inputs. The footpedal 221produces a data stream representing control signals resulting from thebutton and switch positions triggered on the footpedal 221. The controlsignals are ultimately destined for the instrument host 102. Controlsignals may include but are not limited to position of a footpedal, suchas left heel 703, center heel 704, right heel 705, pitch safety detect706, pitch 707, and yaw 708 positions; button pushes or “stomp” values,or other appropriate states in the case of a footpedal. Moreover,predefined footpedal positions FP0, FP1, FP2, or FP3 (FPn) may becommunicated. For example, pitch FP0 701 and yaw FP0 702 may becommunicated when the footpedal 221 is connected.

FIG. 8 shows the conceptual connections between the footpedal 221 andthe base unit and power source. Footpedal 221 includes pedal 802, base803, and communications interface 804 here shown at the side of the base803. The footpedal 221 in this view includes batteries 805, typicallyrechargeable batteries. A transmitter 806 and receiver 807 are providedin the footpedal 221 in this embodiment and connect to thecommunications interface 804 to access the antenna 215, and in thisembodiment a “connection LED” 808 is provided that is constantly on whenthe wireless device 211 data channel is available for operational use.When a data channel becomes disconnected due to interference or othercauses, the connection LED 808 may blink on and off, warning the userthat the data channel is lost or disconnected and communicationredundancy is not available. Blinking in this manner enables the surgeonto decide whether to continue the procedure or obtain a new wirelessdevice 211. Other notification methods may be employed, including butnot limited to optical (e.g. one LED per channel) and audio notificationmethods.

The present designs exclusive master-slave data communicationsrelationship may alternatively be used between any two modules that arecommunicating via any asynchronous media. This communications protocolmay be realized in either hardware or software. In addition, thiscommunications protocol may be implemented inside another protocol,including but not limited to, Bluetooth and Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol.

The foregoing is not determinative or exclusive or inclusive of allcomponents, interfaces, communications, and operational modes employablewithin the present design. The description of specific embodimentsreveals the general nature of the disclosure sufficiently that otherscan, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt thesystem and method for various applications without departing from thegeneral concept. The design presented herein and the specific aspectsillustrated are meant not to be limiting, but may include alternatecomponents while still incorporating the teachings and benefits of theinvention, namely a wireless exclusive master-slave data communicationsmanagement apparatus employing a wireless device, wireless controller, acommunications network, and host system. While the invention has thusbeen described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it willbe understood that the invention is capable of further modifications.This application is intended to cover any variations, uses oradaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles ofthe invention, and including such departures from the present disclosureas come within known and customary practice within the art to which theinvention pertains. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications arewithin the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosedembodiments. The phraseology or terminology employed herein is for thepurpose of description and not of limitation.

1. A method for exclusively pairing wireless devices, comprising: providing a Bluetooth connection between at least two wireless devices, wherein a master wireless device is configured with Bluetooth master device functionality and a slave wireless device is configured with Bluetooth slave device functionality; acquiring a stored unique address from the slave wireless device over said Bluetooth connection; comparing the stored unique address to a master wireless device unique address available at the master wireless device; and exclusively pairing said master wireless device and the slave wireless device when the unique address acquired from the slave wireless device is found to identically match the master wireless device unique address.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein exclusively pairing enables a master-slave communications path to connect one master wireless device to one slave wireless device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the master wireless device further establishes a single exclusive pairing with one slave wireless device at one time.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring further comprises: configuring the one slave wireless device to store the master wireless device unique address; retrieving the unique address stored in the slave wireless device; and sending said unique address to the master wireless device when requested by the master wireless device.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing further comprises determining whether stored unique address acquired from the slave wireless device is identical to the master wireless device unique address.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising explicitly un-pairing said Bluetooth master device and said one Bluetooth slave device when the acquired unique address does not match the Bluetooth master device's unique address.
 7. An exclusive pairing system for pairing a Bluetooth compliant slave device to a computing platform comprising a Bluetooth pairing utility and an exclusive pairing utility, the exclusive pairing system comprising; a device controller configured to control communications between the computing platform and the Bluetooth compliant slave device over a wireless communications network and enable exclusive pairing between the computing platform and the Bluetooth compliant medical slave device; wherein the Bluetooth compliant slave device is configured to support a wireless mode of operation, and further wherein the computing platform is configured to establish exclusive pairing between the computing platform and the Bluetooth compliant slave device over the wireless communications network.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the Bluetooth pairing utility comprises a graphical user interface for managing Bluetooth device discovery and authentication.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the exclusive pairing utility further comprises a graphical user interface for managing the configuration and operation of exclusively connected non-fixed slave devices.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller comprises master device functionality capable of transmitting information to and receiving information from the Bluetooth compliant slave device.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein the Bluetooth compliant slave device includes Bluetooth slave device functionality capable of transmitting information to and receiving information from the controller.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing platform and controller are configured to exclusively pair the computing platform to a plurality of slave devices having Bluetooth functionality.
 13. A method for providing exclusive Bluetooth communication between a computing platform controller and a wireless device, comprising: establishing a Bluetooth communications path between the computing platform controller and the wireless device; forming an exclusive communications path between said computing platform controller and only said wireless device using a unique address obtained from the wireless device by the computing platform controller when said unique address matches a computing platform controller address.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the Bluetooth communications path is formed in accordance with a Bluetooth discovery and authentication specification.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the forming further comprises sending the unique address from the wireless device over a wireless network in response to queries from the computing platform controller.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein forming the exclusive communications path further comprises comparing the unique address stored in the wireless device to the computing platform controller address to determine if a match condition exists.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein said Bluetooth master and slave devices form an exclusive communications path when the unique address acquired from the wireless device is found by the computing platform controller to be an identical match the computing platform controller address.
 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising explicitly un-pairing wireless device from the computing platform controller when the unique address acquired from the wireless device is found by the computing platform controller to not match the computing platform controller address.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein pairing devices enables a master-slave communications path to connect a single master device to a single slave device.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein the Bluetooth master device further establishes a single exclusive pairing with a single slave device at any one time. 